Practical discussion on contemporary life challenges from an ancient perspective.

Saturday, July 07, 2012

TIME FOR A SERIOUS CONVERSATION

“’Come, let us discuss this,’says
the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet,they will be as white as snow;though they are as red as crimson,they will be like wool.’” (Isaiah 1:18 HCSB)

There is the conversation that demands
to be had—not chit-chat, no joking, nothing superficial or beating around the
bush.Such conversations are meant to be
direct and pointed—a serious conversation requiring a serious tone.

It might be a conversation a
businessman has with an employee who is not getting the job done.It could be a conversation a father has with
a son who has been running with the wrong crowd.It is the kind of conversation a brother has with
another brother who sees him shirking his responsibilities to his family.It is when a pastor confronts a church member
about unrepentant, public sin.You could
think of other examples—some you have initiated, others where you have been on
the receiving end—maybe some that need to happen today.

Such conversations are not fun—for
anybody.They are not meant to be.But, they must be had at times.The subject matter can be painful, but
nothing ever gets better until the “elephant in the room” ceases to be ignored
and is acknowledged.

Sin, plain, persistent and pervasive
was the subject God confronts through the words of His prophet Isaiah.The Lord tells His children that it is time
for a serious conversation.He will not
look the other way.

There is nothing cryptic about God’s
confrontational conversation.He is very
specific about their rebellious nature.The consequences of their wicked ways are set out, the expectations for
change are listed, but the possibility of restored blessings are held out as
well.

“’If you are willing and obedient,you will eat the good things of the land.But if you refuse and
rebel,you will be devoured by the sword.’ For
the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isa.1:19-20 HCSB)

That
is the choice before us.God has
summoned us to have a serious conversation.

Dear
reader, what is going on in your life, spiritually right now?Are you entertaining sin and embracing
ungodly acts?Do you find yourself more
absorbed with the pleasures of this world than concerned about the world to
come?You are slipping spiritually.You know it.What will you do about it?

Church,
at the risk of seeming to be a party-pooper, it is time for a serious
conversation.I am concerned about the
state of the church in America,
and particularly alarmed about our church.Church membership seems to mean virtually nothing any more.We have raised a generation of young people
that are walking away from the church, perhaps never to return.The trends in baptisms, giving, attendance, and
involvement in service are all down, with the rate of decline seeming to be
speeding up.What is most alarming is
that few appear to care.Do you?What will we do about it?

Then,
there is our sin-sick nation!Our
spiritual health is in critical condition.When God, the Great Physician call us into His office, the conversation
is blunt, “You can change, or you are going to die.”That’s what He said to the Jews centuries
ago.Today, the Holy Spirit is saying it
to America.Will we shrug it off?Will we make the hard choices to change our
ways?

It’s
time we had a serious conversation.I’m
going to have one with God—right now.Will you join me?

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About Me

I am a mountaineer by birth--a native of Asheville, NC. For a period of ten years I lived in the Charlotte area and for the last eighteen, I have been "home." I was brought up in a Christian family. In fact, I went to church nine months before I was born! Despite the best efforts of parents and preachers, I went astray. The Prodigal Son story that Jesus told in Luke 15 became my story--a sordid life of drugs and booze and that's enough for you to know. But at the age of eighteen all I had been taught came flooding back into my mind when I saw the mess I was in. Christ changed me. I gave my life to Him and as a result have spent the last three decades preaching the Gospel. I'm not all I ought to be and certainly not what I one day shall be, but thankfully, not what I used to be! God has blessed me with a great wife, five wonderful children and so far, twelve grandchildren. To Him be the glory and praise, now and forever.